B59c lyndon letter march 2014 web

B59C

March 2014

Lyndon Bowring

Live and Let Live Greetings from CARE! The other night I couldn’t sleep, so I tuned the radio to the BBC World Service, and listened to an ‘Assignment’ programme about introducing voluntary euthanasia for children in Belgium. It was chilling to hear medics, paediatricians and young people suggesting that children as young as ten, who understand they have a terminal illness, could show sufficient maturity to decide whether to be given a lethal barbiturate. I couldn’t believe my ears and it took me a long time to get back to sleep, as I thought how God must grieve over countries in Europe and states in America lawfully approving such killing of innocent people.

Four days later, Belgium’s Parliament voted to allow terminally ill children of any age to choose to end their lives through the administration of a lethal injection with parental consent, after medical and psychiatric counselling. I didn’t know how to respond, except to cry, ‘Lord have mercy upon them’.

Precious values We all know about very ill children and adults who have had to endure extreme weakness, debilitation and are nearing the end of their lives, for whom there are no quick and easy answers. Should ending their lives be an option? There are some who think so, and continue to campaign for ‘death with dignity’ whilst dismissing our concern about ‘a slippery slope’ to full-blown euthanasia. It is only 12 years since Belgium legalised euthanasia for adults.

They know that British society is not ready to legalise euthanasia – so they are adopting a

‘softly, softly’ approach, starting with ‘assisted dying’ for terminally ill patients able to make a reasoned decision. To this end Lord Falconer, in the Westminster Parliament, and Margo MacDonald in the Scottish Parliament, have both tabled assisted suicide Bills which would permit this dangerous practice. It is anticipated that debates will begin early this summer.

We will keep you informed. Our concern is that this proposed first step towards euthanasia would inevitably result in some people with major disabilities, life limiting illness or a serious mental health condition, coming under pressure to agree to ‘assisted dying’ – so as not to be a burden to others. The ‘right to die’, promoted by Dignity in Dying and other advocates of assisted suicide, is in serious danger of becoming for some ‘a duty to die’. CARE, along with other concerned Christians and UK citizens, will fight Lord Falconer and Margo MacDonald’s assisted suicide Bills in every way we can. ‘Live and Let Live’ will be our campaign slogan. In the end everything comes back to the issue of human dignity – the precious value and welfare of men, women and children made in the image of God, crowned with glory and honour, and loved by Him.

Suffering Saviour Perhaps you have lost someone, faced serious illness or nursed a loved one. You may have experienced deep hurt and loneliness. When we are tempted to question why God allows suffering, it is important to remember that Jesus suffered intense pain and utter desolation on the cross when His Father turned away and rejected him. He became sin, bearing the full wrath of God in place of us having to be punished for our sin. He cried out ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

I believe the sovereign God, our suffering saviour, cares more about pain and death than we could ever imagine.

‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.’ (Hebrews 4:14-16) One deeply positive alternative to euthanasia is the success of the hospice movement and palliative care. Here we see love in action! Britain is renowned for pioneering this field of medicine and care that greatly relieves patients’ suffering, allowing them to live to the end of their natural lives. I will never forget my visit to St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, the first Christian hospice in the world established by Dame Cicely Saunders. I felt the presence of the angels of God around the nurses caring for those who were dying. It was a privilege for Charlie Colchester and me to attend Dame Cicely’s memorial service.

Westminster Abbey rang out with triumphant praises to God for her life and work.

Trafficking and exploitation In the House of Lords Lord McColl, a Christian Peer, has worked hard for many years to persuade Parliament to do more to protect trafficked children and adults. It is therefore

very encouraging that the Government has decided to introduce a Modern Slavery Bill. Although the Bill is not perfect, we are grateful for your prayers that God will use this opportunity and that Lord McColl’s recommendations will be incorporated.

In Northern Ireland, Lord Morrow, a committed Christian and highly respected politician, is also working on a Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

His reaction to this story was, he said, a deciding factor in his decision.

‘Anna’ from Romania was living in London, when she was grabbed on the street and driven away to Luton Airport to fly to Galway. With little to eat or drink and continually beaten, Anna was held in the same room for four months, forced to work as a prostitute seeing up to 20 men a day. Other trafficked women were trapped in the same brothel.

Then she was taken to other cities across Ireland until one night a client helped her to escape. She was so traumatised by her ordeal that she tried to kill herself, but now Anna is assisting police to track down her captors. She plans to study law so as to help others caught in the nightmare of human trafficking.

If Lord Morrow’s Bill becomes law, Northern Ireland will enjoy the most developed antitrafficking legislation anywhere in the UK. What a striking example of God bringing good out of apparent hopelessness! He never wants people like Anna to suffer – rather He grieves with them in their pain – and is able to overrule even the worst of situations. We do not always see this happening and, for millions, recompense will not come in this life. The New Testament constantly reminds us that suffering is inevitable but, as we trust God, He can turn it to good and bring out what is pure and precious.

‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ (Romans 8:28)

God’s perspective ‘It’s not fair!’ is a cry every parent has heard from the lips of their child!

The sad truth is that difficult things do happen to lovely people, while health and happiness is enjoyed by many who lead selfish and dishonest lives. It is one of the greatest mysteries of life. ‘Why doesn’t God do more for people who suffer?’ has been asked a million times.

In CARE we are aware of innocent people who struggle through no fault of their own – the newly born child with special needs, the person who is physically disabled or terminally ill, the adult with learning disabilities, the one who has been trafficked and enslaved, the woman struggling to come to terms with an abortion she now deeply regrets, the individual caught up in pornography addiction and the child exposed to harmful online material.

When I contemplate the vast fortunes being made by those who wilfully traffic others for sexual exploitation and forced labour, the private abortion clinic owners who reap greater

profit the more abortions they perform, the pornographers who make money out of violent and graphic material, my heart grieves. But I take comfort from the Psalmist: ‘Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart, but as for me my foot almost slipped, I almost lost my footing. I envy the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked … until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I understood their final destiny.’ (Psalm 73:1-3,17) Coming into God’s presence, meditating on His grace and mercy and remembering Genesis 18:25, ‘shall not the judge of all the earth do right?’ our hearts can be stilled as we see things again from God’s perspective.

There is a day coming when God will put all things right. He promises us: ‘At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity’. (Psalm 72:1,2) Meanwhile we are all called to preach the gospel and to exercise our gospel responsibility, bringing healing, help and hope to others. We thank God for the privilege CARE has of being a Christian voice in the UK Parliaments and Assemblies and in Brussels – initiating and supporting legislation that reflects His truth and compassion.

We deeply value your support as we work on behalf of those who are being trafficked and against any effort to legalise assisted killing. We promise to keep you informed about these and other important issues which put at risk the dignity and great worth of every human being.

Thank you in advance for your continued partnership with us in this work.

Yours in His love and grace

Lyndon Bowring

Care

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Executive Chairman: Rev Lyndon Bowring Chief Executive: Nola Leach Care is a registered charity: Charity No:1066963 Scottish Charity No: SC038911 Company limited by Guarantee No. 3481417